Crush On Cabernet Franc!

There are more than a few reasons why wine lovers around the world are smitten with Cabernet Franc and the Wine Pairing Weekend (#WinePW) crew are proving it with this month’s roundup of articles (see below). One of my go-to wines, Cabernet Franc had me at the first sip and I’ve never turned back. Its general characteristics of medium body, fragrant aromas, bright acidity, moderate tannic structure and intense notes of herbs, spice, bell pepper, tobacco, black currant, raspberry and purple flowers on the nose and palate are enticing and work well with so many foods I love.

Depending on where it’s grown, Cabernet Franc offers an array of aromas and flavors. One such sensation is the aroma of bell pepper. In warmer climates, this aroma is a touch sweeter, not unlike roasted red pepper or cayenne spiced chocolate. Tart flavors, minerality, and high acidity are more prevalent in cool climate Cabernet Franc and in warmer areas, such as Napa Valley, more sweet strawberry and dried fruit are notable on the palate.

Originating in southwest France, Cabernet Franc is the parent grape of many varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenere. France is the largest producer of this variety yet it’s cultivated in many wine growing regions including Italy, Chile, California and Virginia. Cabernet Franc is important in right bank Bordeaux blends thanks to its bright aromas and acidity. In the cooler Loire Valley region, especially in Anjou, Saumur, Chinon and Bourgueil, we find it bottled as a single varietal.

Photo Credit: Wine Folly

2013 Peju Petit Trois Cabernet Franc

A love of farming and a passion for wine brought Tony Peju to the Napa Valley. Born near the Caspian Sea, Tony’s ideas for Peju Winery were derived from his experiences in France, England and Los Angeles. In 1983, Tony and his wife Herta (H.B.) purchased 30 acres of land in the Napa Valley with the magic ingredient – location. Neighboring vineyards in Rutherford includes Robert Mondavi, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyard. Situated between Highway 29 and the Napa River, the acreage included a 1900-era house and vineyards. Looking to the future, Tony and Herta (H.B.) continue to play a vital advisory role, but daughters Lisa and Ariana along with a strong management team are now leading the future direction of the winery. Excerpt from Peju Winery

Excited to taste my Napa Valley find, I opened an elegant wine, 2013 Peju Petit Trois Cabernet Franc ($70). Of 100% Cabernet Franc, I found more tannins and less acidity than its Loire Valley counterparts of which I’m very familiar. On the nose and palate, round notes of cherries, blueberries, pomegranates, caramel, brown sugar and savory herbs were absolutely sophisticated and flavorful. Balanced with complexity and structure, the lush, deep fruit and touch of oak notes in the Peju Cabernet Franc were brilliant complements to my savory Mushroom Risotto.

Crush On This! Cabernet Franc…

You need more wines to explore? There are many outstanding wines of Cabernet Franc – the list is endless… if you know where to look! Allison Levine of Please the Palate, Christine Campbell of Girls Go Grape and I shared our latest Cabernet Franc favorites during a recent Crush on This YouTube video. Enjoy!

Cheers! ~ Cindy

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For more about Cabernet Franc, enjoy the following articles from the #WinePW crew.

• Culinary Adventures with Camilla: Honey-Lemon-Sesame Drizzled Plancha’d Veggies + Garzón 2018 Reserva Cabernet Franc
• A Day in the Life on the Farm : Hungarian Short Ribs Paired with Dracaena Cab Franc
• The Quirky Cork: Francly Turkish! Turkish Cab Franc & Lamb Chops
• Crushed Grape Chronicles: “Cab Franc – Sailing the Loire with a Pirate Princess”
• Exploring the Wine Glass: Championing for Cabernet Franc; The True Underdog
• Cooking Chat: Easy Bibimbap Recipe with Cab Franc Wine Pairing
• The Swirling Dervish: Biodynamic Bourgueil from Laurent Herlin for #WinePW
• My Full Wine Glass: “Old World vs New World Cab Franc: Game On!”
• Always Ravenous: “Cabernet Franc Paired with Flavors of Persian Cuisine”
• Enofylz:“Domaine Bousquet Gaia Cabernet Franc Paired with Sausage and Potato Pan Roast”
• Wine Predator: Cab Franc Thrives in California: Examples from Santa Ynez, Sonoma, El Dorado, Paso Robles #WinePW and St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil’s Amirault “Le Vau Renou” 2016 Cabernet Franc
• Avvinare: Cab franc in Friuli Venezia Giulia
• Somm’s Table: “Old World/New World Cab Franc Explorations”